Dylan Ratigan?! Really MSNBC, Don’t We Have Enough Ranters Already?

On June 29th, Dylan Ratigan, the former host of CNBC’s Fast Money, will premiere his new show, The Meeting With Dylan Ratigan, to air Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. on MSNBC. The show will address a variety of topics spearheaded by Ratigan, its pugnacious fast-talking star, who as the video below will demonstrate, offers a frenzied two-hour beginning to his viewers’ early day.

By adding Ratigan’s two MSNBC hours to Morning Joe Scarborough’s preceding three MSNBC hours gives viewers five consecutive rancorous hours to start off nearly every day. Really MSNBC, is this what an already anxious nation needs? Two more bellicose hours to agitate a public already overwrought by financial worries, unemployment, local and global violence, health care woes, and more? Do you really need to heighten the disharmony of our national ideological divide?

It seems that all three corporate cable/satellite networks, MSNBC, CNN and Fox, believe Americans are better served through agitation than information. Indeed, the only true journalist working in the so-called cable “news” arena today is CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, whose intellect, integrity, and experience preclude him from the need for hyperbole and noise.

Honestly, MSNBC, you really blew it this time. Leave it to you to exacerbate the stress of the overburdened.

But don’t just take my word for it. See for yourselves how agitating and frequently illogical Ratigan is from this clip of yesterday’s appearance on The Ed Show on MSNBC. Can you understand what Ratigan is saying through his double-talk and gesticulations? For me, all he offers is a migraine:

So what do you think? Does Ratigan pass your test for how you choose to spend your mornings? How about this line?:

“Not everybody in America is entitled to the most expensive health care for every single person.”

Can you get more elitist than that? Interestingly, something tells me Mr. Ratigan believes HE’s entitled to the most expensive health care – but perhaps you and I are not.

What’s behind MSNBC’s corporate logic that this agitator is their guy for the morning? Don’t we have enough anger in this country? Shouldn’t we be looking for calm, reasoned, informative voices instead of Limbaugh-like rants? I’ve become more and more certain after this poor choice of programming that the people’s airwaves are an ever growing danger, and that foolhardy complicit executives should be relieved of their jobs.

Some of you may deem me unfair for judging The Meeting before its premiere, but please understand that Ratigan’s appearance on The Ed Show was to advertise his new show. This was MSNBC’s public appeal for viewers. This was MSNBC’s chosen commercial for Dylan Ratigan’s show. So while I admit I am prejudging, I’m using the network’s own marketing tool to judge.

Fortunately in my case, I’m not home at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday so I won’t be dealing with Dylan. But for those of you who are, this choice of programming is completely up to you. Will you choose a morning rant on cable to stir your aggression, or perhaps community volunteering to add value to your day?

It’s entirely up to you!!

Now a little aside: Since posting the youtube on Ratigan it has attracted several comments. Here’s one by an unnamed source – perhaps a prelude of things to come. Can YOU figure out what it means?

next monday, RIDE TO THE SOUND OF THE GUNS, dylan, and make THE BASTARDS OF THE UNIVERSE, dred the name of DYLAN RATIGAN 4 EVER

About Linda Milazzo

Linda Milazzo is a Los Angeles based participatory journalist and educator. Since 1974, she has divided her time between the entertainment industry, government organizations, community development projects and educational programs.

Linda began her writing career in advertising and promotions. From 1976 to 1989, she operated an independent public relations service providing specialty writing for individual and corporate clients. A socio-political activist since the Vietnam war, Linda has focused on political writing since 2002. Her essays, letters and commentaries have appeared in domestic and international journals, newspapers and magazines. She's an educator and creator of a writers' program she's taught privately and in public schools.

Linda has facilitated an advocacy writing workshop and has developed an advocacy writing program for implementation in public and private educational institutions and in community based organizations. She's a regular contributor to numerous high profile and highly respected news and opinion websites.

Comments

Tell the people of the usa what the job requirements/duties are as the president of the us, just as in any other job. Also tell them what the limitations of the branch of office of the president is such as: the president can write a bill but he cannot past it. He can only sign one. Report what is fair and true and present to the viewing public what is really going on. Tell them, the public, why congressmembers really want to be in congress and hold on to their positions. Tell the public what happens to the so called “WAR CHESTS”, plus their retirement packages. GO DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!!!!!!

You are really off on this one! Ratigan’s show is an improvement for the MSNBC Obama propaganda television station. MSNBC is so bias it’s sickening. I no longer watch MSNBC, except for Morning Joe, because of its bias.
BTW” SHAME ON PRESIDENT OBAMA! Good for officer Crowley for doing his job and not putting up with disorderly conduct from Professor Gates! Gates has an enormous chip on his shoulder that its time to give up. Gates and President Obama have shown they are both Racist and arrogant. Why do President Obama and Gates think Gates deserves special treatment? Belligerence towards a police officer should not be accepted from anyone. Shame on President Obama for prejuding! Gates should be grateful to officer Crowley for being there to protect him.

The Body Politic

Dave Zirin: She is our Jordan. She is our Jim Brown. She is our Babe Ruth, calling his shots. She is no longer content to dodge bullets, but understands how to stop them. Serena is that rare athlete who has not only mastered her sport. She’s harnessed it.